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British Airways set to suspend 32,000 staff amid coronavirus crisis
Carrier is scrambling to cut costs as virus destroys demand for air travel
yesterday
© REUTERS
British Airways is expected to announce plans to suspend about 32,000 employees as the airline looks to slash costs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The airline is in talks with Unite, the union, about temporarily suspending staff, with an announcement expected later today.
The move could impact about 32,000 staff, according to a person familiar with the matter. This would range from cabin crew, ground staff, engineers and head office.
BA already agreed a deal with its 4,000 pilots last month, which will see them required to take two weeks of unpaid leave in each of April and May, with a deduction from basic pay spread over three months.
It comes as carriers around the world are looking at ways to cut costs as they battle the industry’s worst crisis in decades.
This week BA stopped flying from Gatwick airport and announced plans to consolidate its London flight operations at Terminal 5 in Heathrow airport. The airline has already temporarily closed its operations at London City airport last week.
A BA spokesperson said talks were continuing with Unite on Thursday.
Staff affected by the job suspensions are expected to receive some of their wages through the government’s job retention scheme, which covers 80 per cent of an employee’s salary capped at a maximum of £2,500 a month.
Carrier is scrambling to cut costs as virus destroys demand for air travel
yesterday
© REUTERS
British Airways is expected to announce plans to suspend about 32,000 employees as the airline looks to slash costs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The airline is in talks with Unite, the union, about temporarily suspending staff, with an announcement expected later today.
The move could impact about 32,000 staff, according to a person familiar with the matter. This would range from cabin crew, ground staff, engineers and head office.
BA already agreed a deal with its 4,000 pilots last month, which will see them required to take two weeks of unpaid leave in each of April and May, with a deduction from basic pay spread over three months.
It comes as carriers around the world are looking at ways to cut costs as they battle the industry’s worst crisis in decades.
This week BA stopped flying from Gatwick airport and announced plans to consolidate its London flight operations at Terminal 5 in Heathrow airport. The airline has already temporarily closed its operations at London City airport last week.
A BA spokesperson said talks were continuing with Unite on Thursday.
Staff affected by the job suspensions are expected to receive some of their wages through the government’s job retention scheme, which covers 80 per cent of an employee’s salary capped at a maximum of £2,500 a month.
